Abstract

Auto-ignition temperature of polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride) and carboxy terminated polybutadiene has been measured at various oxygen pressures (1-28 atm) in a high pressure differential thermal analysis assembly at a heating rate of 10°C/min. The exothermic peak appears between 250-350°C in polystyrene and poly(vinyl chloride) and between 150-200°C for carboxy terminated polybutadiene. Ignition appears to be controlled by in situ forma tion and degradation of polymeric peroxides. Inverse dependence of ignition temperature on oxygen pressure is explained by the rate equation which con siders that ignition of a particular sample, of a fixed geometry, occurs when gasification rate reaches a unique critical value.